Tragedy Strikes Sokoto: Bandits Ambush, Kill Newly Recruited Govt Workers
A bandit attack in Kunawa village, Sokoto State, has left a driver and two others dead, with police confirming the incident. Victims included newly recruited government workers returning from screening, who had previously pleaded for local screening due to road insecurity, but their requests were denied.
The Sokoto State Police Command has officially confirmed a deadly bandit attack that occurred at Kunawa village within the Goronyo Local Government Area of the state.
During the assault, a driver and two other individuals were killed, and this confirmation from the police spokesperson, made during a telephone conversation, followed an earlier report by SaharaReporters regarding the incident on the Marnona Isa road.
According to reports, the bandits intercepted vehicles carrying passengers, many of whom were newly recruited Sokoto State Government workers.
These workers were returning home after traveling to Sokoto city to participate in recruitment-related screening processes, which included submitting certificates and completing other necessary documentation.
A community source, who spoke to SaharaReporters, stated that at least six bodies had been recovered following the Wednesday evening attack, with ongoing search efforts to ascertain if more passengers had been killed.
The source tragically confirmed that three of the victims whose bodies were recovered were among those recently employed by the state government, having died on their journey back from fulfilling recruitment requirements.
The same community source revealed a deeply concerning detail: the newly recruited workers had previously appealed to the state government to conduct the screening exercise in their respective local government areas.
Their plea was driven by fears stemming from the persistent insecurity on the roads, which they explained were not safe for long-distance travel to the state capital.
Despite these expressed concerns and requests for alternative arrangements to mitigate exposure to danger, their appeals were reportedly not granted, compelling them to undertake the perilous journey.
The incident is considered particularly painful as the affected workers were traveling solely to meet government-mandated requirements for their jobs.
Furthermore, the community source alleged that some individuals were also kidnapped during the attack, although the identities and exact number of those abducted remained unclear at the time of reporting.
Unconfirmed reports also suggested that two vehicles, each carrying approximately six passengers, were primarily impacted during the assault.
This tragic event has severely renewed concerns among residents regarding the safety of travel on roads throughout Sokoto State, especially in communities that are consistently subjected to attacks by armed groups, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced security measures.